Analyze the many different ways Hosseini presents family in this novel.

In the fable, Hosseini presents the idea that “cruelty and benevolence are but shades of the same colour” (12). Examine the several different “morally ambiguous” situations that are in this novel and comment how this statement applies to them.

Several characters in this story have a disability. Discuss how this pattern connects to the story’s theme.

There is a strong narrative or storytelling motif in this novel. Discuss how it connects with the concept of family.

Hosseini employs many flashbacks in his narration. What function does it serve in relation to the novel’s theme?

Discuss the conflict that occurs in being bound by duty or obligation with the desire to escape. Which characters face this dilemma? What does it reveal about the concept of family?

In the Acknowledgements section, Hosseini explains that the novel’s title was, in part, inspired by a William Blake poem, called “Nurse’s Song” from his Songs from Innocence collection. The novel’s title, the feathers, and the oak tree can all represent innocence. Discuss the use of these symbols, including the title, in the context of the whole novel.

In Chapter 4 Nabi writes: “They say, Find a purpose in your life and live it. But, sometimes, it is only after you have lived that you recognize your life had a purpose, and likely one you never had in mind” (127). What “purpose” did the major characters find in their lives that may not have been a part of their original plans?